Yet again, I visited my sister, this time in Spain, and the first time I visited her since I went to Lyon (which I blogged about here). Specifically, I went to Madrid for a weekend, which might not have been enough time to fully visit the city - but I have got a blogpost out of it. I also have far more photos to share, so there'll be another post on Madrid coming soon specifically for them.
El Retiro Park
This is a stunning park located not too far from the city centre. It's a Unesco Heritage Site, in fact, that's how marvellous and beautiful it is, and it puts Hyde Park to shame. One moment you're surrounded by trees (perhaps including the oldest in Madrid) and lakes, creating a peaceful atmosphere where people relaxed on the grassy slopes, the next sees the trees completely replaced with statues and a large lake where carp thrives. However, it's possibly the area surrounding the Crystal Palace that is the most gorgeous. There is a lake as well, this time populated with a few tortoises, combining both previously described moments into one brilliant place.
It used to be for royals only as part of a palace completed in 1640, though this started to change under the reign of Charles III. Upon the Glorious Revolution in 1868, control passed from the royals to the council. History aside, the park itself can only truly be described with photos.
More about the park can be found here.
Campo del Moro
There's a lovely view of the palace from an entrance off the main road, and passing through the footpaths by the fountain up to the leaf-covered steps is quite relaxing, provided the weather wasn't as hot as it turned out to be. The fountain's architect, Ventura Rodríquez, has countless work throughout Madrid, and the Fuente de las Conchas is certainly great.
The Metro
The metro in Madrid varies between more elegant, modern trains that put the Underground to shame, and much older stock such as that which runs on the 1 and requires handles to open doors. And yes, the line names are numbers, not the peculiar names in London.
To my regret, I didn't manage to photograph the unusual ghost station on the 1, Chamberí. Passing through it as you approach Bilbao station, its signage dated and its disused platforms never to be used again. You can visit the station, apparently, something commuters have been unable to do since it closed in 1966 due to being to close to the adjacent stops. It remains an unusual relic of the old metro.
Puerta del Sol
This is the centre of Madrid, and the point all road distances are calculated from in Spain as a road marker will tell you. It was quite busy on the Saturday evening when I first visited, the hub of a bustling nightlife and surrounded by countless restaurants.
Obviously I saw the statue of a bear and a strawberry tree, and obviously I noticed how its feet had become yellowed due to constant touching. It's a depiction of the Madrid coat of arms, which has used the bear and tree since the 13th century and has reached the point of childlike minimalism. The bear is the Ursa Major, the tree a result of a dispute in 1222 over forests in the area, which saw Madrid take control the trees and the Church would own the animals.
Obviously I saw the large clock tower. It's part of the Casa de Correos, which houses the regional government. It was originally built for the postal service and completed in 1768, though since then, it's also been used as the headquarters by the Ministry of the Interior under Franco. On New Year's Day, it's tradition in Spain to eat twelve grapes, one for every month and clock chime, an act that's been around since the start of the 20th century.
Obviously I saw the two biggest statues in the square. There's Charles III on horseback, erected in 1994, which looks magnificent, especially with its detailed plinth. There's also the Mariblanca, which depicts Venus and stands not too far from the king.
Santiago Bernabeu
This is the obligatory stadium paragraph. It's the home of Real Madrid and named for their former president. When I visited, there was an electronic concert happening inside, though I'm not sure who was performing. After walking around its perimeter, it was easy to realise it's probably much better to be inside than outside the stadium - it looks extremely bland, and didn't have a sign declaring what it was like most other stadiums, not even a crest. And no, I didn't visit Atletico's stadium, which is far from the city centre.
The Royal Palace
Situated on a wide open plaza and backed by a fantastic view of Madrid behind it, the Royal Palace is one of the largest of its kind in the world - and is also open to visitors. It contains over 3,000 rooms and is a delight both in design and with the art within it. Many might point to the exhibit of the crown in one of the rooms, but I'd refer to the harp as a highlight. And that's not even mentioning the various different wallpapers and carpets that give each room a unique feel, which is impressive considering just how many there are.
It felt more like walking through a gallery than a house, as if the massive dining table was an exuberant artpiece and not where the royal family would eat - though I'm under no illusion that this was a living space - the royal family live elsewhere, outside the city centre. Yet as you exit, there's a large portrait of the king and queen, reminding you of who's in control.
Just round the corner is a grand cathedral, which includes an image of the Virgin Mary of Almudena in the altar, with queues filled with people waiting to see it in prayer. There's also a nearby museum, which I didn't end up visiting, housing art relating to the royal family.
Overall, my brief stay in Madrid was worth it, and I'm certain I could have enjoyed it more if I got a few more days extra. And at times, the weather was an additional reason to have stayed.
Comments
Post a Comment